NEEDS(Scotland) have now held two very successful Coffee Care and Share sessions within the Young Peoples’ Department at Royal Cornhill Hospital.

Two volunteer facilitators led the groups, one held in the morning, and one in the evening, to gauge interest in developing a self help group specifically for those caring for youngsters affected by eating disorders. Both groups were very well attended and had very positive dynamics. Everyone contributed in some way, and supported each other.

We hope to repeat these sessions in 2018, and hopefully recruit a couple of carers to lead the sessions along with us. We do understand how scary and difficult it is to cope with a young person challenged by these horrible illnesses, but we also see the benefits of coming together in a safe setting to share and support others in similar situations. If you think you can help, please get in touch with our administrator at nhsg.needsadministrator@nhs.net.

Initially we would hope to run Coffee Care and Share sessions, perhaps quarterly, depending on interest and availability of volunteers. Each session lasts for 90 minutes, and is basically an informal coffee and chat. However, we must stress the importance of confidentiality as always. Watch this space for our first 2018 date!

http://www.needs-scotland.org/NEEDS/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/coffee-care-and-share-800x600.jpg533800Heather Cassiehttp://www.needs-scotland.org/NEEDS/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/NEEDS-Logo.jpgHeather Cassie2017-11-27 16:36:102017-12-05 11:01:28Support for those caring for adolescents with eating disorders

NEEDS(Scotland) Aberdeen were treated to a mini mindfulness workshop at our meeting on Monday October 2nd.

Louise Martin of The Meditation Shack Ltd came along and led us in 45 minutes of mindful meditation. Louise has previously led a session for us at one of our Wellbeing days which we really enjoyed, and one of our volunteers suggested inviting her along one of our monthly meetings. The session left everyone feeling very relaxed and calm, a great way to begin group sharing sessions.

Louise very generously donated some Breathe magazines to those present. Breathe explores mindfulness and looks at how ways to help us relax and de-clutter our minds. There is a website at www.breathemagazine.co.uk, and also a Teen Breathe which you may wish to explore for younger people.

There’s been quite a bit of interest in this project, which has been really terrific. Here is Nadine’s summary of where the project is so far…

So far for my community music project ‘Can You Hear Me?’, I have been working alongside participants to create a recovery song using art. Two sessions have already passed and I am so pleased with the effort and results from these.

Our first session resulted in mood boards being made from our favourite songs – where we all thought about the musical reasons these songs meant what they did to us. In our second and most recent session, we created lyrics using the four core aims of NEEDS, and together as a group selected phrases from our responses. Next session will be creating rhythms to our lyrics and it would be great to see some more faces! Both members and carers are welcome.

The next session will be held in Room M5 at Rosemount Community Centre in Aberdeen, on Tuesday 14th March at 7-9pm. All group members and carers welcome. You don’t need to have been before!

http://www.needs-scotland.org/NEEDS/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/Music.jpeg426640Heather Cassiehttp://www.needs-scotland.org/NEEDS/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/NEEDS-Logo.jpgHeather Cassie2017-03-12 11:18:052017-12-05 11:05:40Music and Art as a celebration of recovery... an update

Fitting in very nicely during EDAW 2017, NEEDS(Scotland) were invited by Banchory Academy to their Wellbeing Fayre on Tuesday 28th February. We spent the afternoon stamping pupil “passports” as they made their way round the various stands. This was a novel way to make sure they engaged with all the stallholders. It gave us ample opportunity to chat with the different year groups and staff, to raise awareness of eating disorders and to encourage the youngsters to talk to someone if they feel they or one of their friends or family may be at risk.

It also gave us a chance to model our newly acquired NEEDS(Scotland) hoodies……..

Nadine Allan is a third year music student at Aberdeen University. She visited our group on Monday 9th January 2017 to talk to group members about creating a pro-recovery song and related art work. This is a short explanation of what is involved. We hope as many group members and carers will become involved in this as possible as it is an extremely worth while project.

‘Can You Hear Me?’ is a community music project that aims to create a pro-recovery song for those who have experience with eating disorders. The project will use a multi-arts approach that will allow a positive and creative outlet through group music making. In order to create this song, we will use art as a tool to make lyrics and melodies in a sensory way. The art work created can be put on display at the end result of the project to showcase what you have accomplished – as well as recordings of the song for you to keep. This project’s main aim is to give you a voice and a platform to express yourself in a positive way. Both group members and carers of NEEDS are welcome to attend! Sessions will be held during the Art’s & Crafts group nights.

Dates and times of both the group nights and Arts and Crafts group are on our website on this news page. Please telephone or email any queries to our administrator.

http://www.needs-scotland.org/NEEDS/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/Music.jpeg426640Heather Cassiehttp://www.needs-scotland.org/NEEDS/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/NEEDS-Logo.jpgHeather Cassie2017-01-17 13:55:342017-12-05 11:06:46Music and Art as a celebration of recovery

Our Arts and Crafts group continues in Room M5 at the Rosemount Community Centre.

So far we have enjoyed a “free” session using the materials provided, and also a Christmas card making session using the iris folding technique. The cards were stunning, very effective!

Many thanks for Alison Lynch for sharing her time and talents with the group. The next group will be held on Tuesday 17th January 2017. All group members welcome, although you can register on the night.

On Saturday October 22nd, NEEDS(Scotland) held our second Wellbeing Day at Cafe Coast, Aberdeen. The event was attended by group members from both Dundee and Aberdeen and also some former group members and carers. The workshops were on Body Image, led by Francine Dulong and Movement as Therapy part 2 led by Eveline Nicolette. Both were very well received. Francine creates workshops for school and university students for the charity BodyGossip based in London. She created a bespoke workshop for us based on responses to a questionnaire which she had sent out. The workshop was varied, interesting and certainly kept everyone engaged. We could have spent the whole day working on the various activities which were light and non-threatening. Eveline produced a sequel workshop to her initial one which she did at the September day, working in twos or threes, again in a non threatening and relaxed way, which everyone enjoyed. Some of our taster session therapists also took part which they enjoyed too! Taster sessions available this time were reiki, reflexology, shaitsu, massage and manicures. I can only speak for reflexology which was sublime and my beautiful bright red toenails! There are no photos because I was enjoying myself too much and totally forgot to take any! I did notice, however, that everyone left with a smile on their faces! Many thanks to the team at Cafe Coast for providing a superb venue, and a healthy and delicious light lunch. Also many thanks to the speakers and therapists who made the day another great success.

North East Eating Disorder Support Group

Would like to welcome

Neil Gibson

As a Guest speaker on Monday 7 th November 2016

Neil Gibson is senior lecturer and course leader for the BA (Hons) Social Work course at Robert Gordon University. He has been researching the therapeutic use of photography in social care settings as part of his PhD submission. His social work experience includes working in residential childcare, substance use, criminal justice, care management and adult protection.

*sharing time will go ahead as usual after the presentation

“Photography is the only language that can be understood anywhere in the world.” – Bruno Barbey